After two periods, it looked like the Massachusetts hockey team was heading toward its second straight loss to sixth-ranked Michigan. 

Following a scoreless first period, the Wolverines tallied twice in the second to hold a 2-0 lead going into the third. 

Then, it was the Minutemen’s turn to dominate a period. 

UMass ripped off six unanswered goals, scoring three times in the opening 10 minutes of the third before tacking three insurance goals on late to pull away with a 6-3 victory at the Mullins Center. 

"We've got a lot of pieces there and I'm proud and happy that the kids got rewarded,” Minutemen coach Greg Carvel said after the game. “They played hard and the message going into the third period was 'This is the sixth period and I think we're wearing them down. Keep pushing, keep pushing.' I said if we get one, we'll get two, we'll get three — I forgot to keep counting. I never lost hope; 5-on-5 the kids played hard.

“It's a big win for our program,” he added. “It's a big win for the confidence of our team and a big win that we had a full building for and finally gave them something to cheer about at the end of the third period."

Freshman Michael Hrabal, who was selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the second round of the 2023 NHL draft, made his first start in goal for UMass (2-1) and finished the game with 24 saves, 13 coming in the third period. 

“Michael Hrabal is going to be an excellent goaltender,” Carvel said. “You saw that tonight.” 

It was the power play that aided the Minutemen in the third. Following a Michigan penalty early in the third, UMass’ Liam Gorman stole the puck in the Wolverine end. 

Gorman’s shot was saved by Barczewski, as was Jack Musa’s second attempt. Ryan Ufko zipped in to collect the second rebound and fire it home, cutting the lead to 2-1 with 16:30 to play. 

One minute later, at even strength, Ufko sent the puck from the point to Owen Murray in the left circle, and he ripped a shot through traffic that made it to the back of the net to even the score with 15:36 remaining. 

With all the momentum, the Minutemen went back on the power play with 14:10 to go. Ufko slid a pass to Scott Morrow in the left circle who blasted a shot that deflected off the post that appeared to bounce out of the goal. 

The play was later reviewed and it was determined the puck crossed the red line to give UMass the lead with 13:54 remaining. 

With 6:46 to go the Minutemen added an insurance goal. Musa rushed up the right win on a 3-on-2, slid the puck back to Kenny Connors and the sophomore put the shot in the back of the net to make it a 4-2 game. 

With 3:22 to play, and the Michigan net empty, UMass’ Lucas Vanroboys collected the puck in the Minutemen right circle, fired the puck down ice and it trickled into the goal to put the game away. 

Vanroboys potted a second empty-net goal with 1:57 to play. 

Frank Nazar III opened the scoring for the Wolverines (2-2), scoring on the power play with 15:24 to go in the second. Two minutes later, with 13:34 to go in the frame, Garrett Schifsky’s shot found the back of the net to put Michigan ahead, 2-0. 

Wolverine TJ Hughes scored on the power play with 58 seconds to play.